Rack for cups and saucer.



PATENTE D JULY 24, 1906.-

J. 0. SMITH. RACK FOR CUPS AND SAUGERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1905.

JAMES 0. SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

RACK FOR CUPS AND SAUCERS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed November 18, 1905. Serial 110387.972.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES 0. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Cups and Saucers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a rack for ornamental cups and saucers to be placed in drawing-rooms or rooms for the exhibition of artistic objects which will occupy less available wall-space, in which on account of the saucers being protected against contact with each other the care thereof will be facilitated, and in which the pattern of the cups will be better presented for observation.

In the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of t e rack constructed to be supported against the side of a wall, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification of the same constructed to be supported in the corner of a room.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the back wall of the rack, from the central vertical line of which extends forwardly a vertical wall or partition 2. Secured at the top of the rack between said back and partition are the shelves 3, and projecting forwardly from said back on each side of said partition is a vertical series of shelves or ledges 4. Immediately above each ledge is a metal rod 5, which at its center passes through the artition 2 and at its ends is supported in nobs 6, secured to and projecting from the back. Screwed into the partition on opposite sides thereof are screw eyes 7, corresponding in number and relative position with the ledges 4.

In use the saucers stand upon the ledges or shelves 4 behind the metal rods or rails 5 and are supported against the back 1. The cup corresponding to each saucer is suspended on a screw-eye 7.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the rack is substantially identical with one-half of that shown in Fig. 1, obtained by removing one half of the wall or back and leaving the other half and the partition. It is especially adapted for use in a corner of the room. It would generally be made of greater height than that shown in Fig. 1 in order to compensate for there being only a single vertical series of shelves.

In prior forms of racks for exhibiting ornamental cups and saucers the saucers have been supported in a row upon a shelf having a rail above the shelf to hold the saucers against the rack, and the cups have been suspended from screw-eyes above the saucers. With such racks it is necessary to dust very carefully to avoid moving one saucer against the next and chipping the same. With the present construction each saucer is confined to its own place and cannot possibly come into contact with the adjoining pieces, so that it cannot be chipped with ordinary usage and the dusting can be done very rapidly.

A further disadvantage with the old con struction above referred to was that in order to inspect the pattern of the cup it was necessary to go close up to the same and either rcmove the cup from the hook or to stand close to the wall, so as to view the cup sidewise, the cup being suspended on the rack with its top against the rack and the bottomfacing outward therefrom. As the pattern is only marked upon the side of the cup, it could not be seen without suchclose inspection. With the present construction the cup is so suspended that the pattern on the side of the cup is presented to the observer in his ordinary position looking toward the wall, and there is no need for close inspection to determine the pattern.

I claim l. A rack comprising a saucer-supporting Wall adapted to rest against a wall, a cupsupporting wall extending at right angles from the back, a vertical series of shelves and corresponding rails on the saucer-supporting wall, and a corresponding vertical series of hooks secured to the cup-supporting wall, substantially as described.

2. A rack comprising a saucer-supporting wall adapted to rest against the wall, a cupsupporting wall extending centrally therefrom at right angles, a vertical series of shelves and rails on the saucer-supporting wall on each side of the cup-supporting wall, and a corresponding vertical series of hooks at each side of the cup-supporting wall, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I havehereunto set In hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. 0. SMITH. Witnesses:

Bnssm GORFINKEL, E. WOODWARD. 

